And we’re just as happy as they are…
[Video]
[6.17]
Joshua Minsoo Kim: “Early” sounds anonymous, like music for mornings spent lounging in living rooms; Jafaris exudes the effortless nonchalance of Noname, Crookes sounds like an actual no name. They sing with little desire to sound convincing, but it’s fine: their contrasting vocal rhythms tell enough of the story, and their romance will move at a pace they find comfortable.
[6]
Brad Shoup: The arrangement sounds early. Quiet piano daubs, rustling snare hits. Percy and Crooksie’s cadences are jittery and foggy, their tones nervous and hushed. Possibly they’re each on their second cup. Things start to swell toward the end; strings achieve a properly romantic size. Then the wave breaks.
[7]
Ian Mathers: Wow, the production here somehow feels like it earns that slow bloom/blush/flourish into lush gorgeousness during the last minute here; the rest of the song is good but that coda where everything melts around the repeated, glowingly joyful “I can’t believe it” is worth waiting twice as long for.
[8]
Thomas Inskeep: A subtle, lightly bouncy track whose production, like a stone going downhill, gets bigger as it approaches each chorus. Crookes has a nicely airy voice and Jafaris provides a solid rap, and weirdly, this feels like trip-hop. Is it time for the Morcheeba revival?
[5]
Joshua Lu: The relationship being sung about here is supposed to be in its early stages, but the casual bickering that goes on between Joy Crookes and Jafaris gives off the impression that this is a bond that’s been fostered for a long time. They’ve given up much to be with each other, they’re ride-or-die for each other, they can’t believe they’re with each other. This all seems deliberate — they do seem like they’ve fallen for each other too early — but the further this affection is pushed, the more facetious it comes across, and I don’t know if I can believe it either.
[5]
Alfred Soto: I’m all in for “feckless” in pop songs that burble like Billie Eilish in a cool mountain stream. Keep burblin’.
[6]